Assess an inspection in Germany before reserving the car

Germany is our main vehicle sourcing and assessment route. Whether we can inspect a particular car depends on its location, access, possible scheduling and the seller’s permission. We do not promise immediate coverage or that every seller will allow a visit, a test drive or the use of diagnostic equipment. We coordinate the service from our Zurich base; we do not claim to have local offices in Germany or in destination cities.

To assess the request, send the listing link, town or area, VIN if available, asking price and seller contact details. Also tell us the intended registration country and any deadline or conditions the seller has given you. With this information, we can indicate which checks appear feasible and prepare an initial proposal. This is not a reservation, inspection or commitment to buy.

• Availability of a lift, workspace and keys, and permission to start or drive the car, must be confirmed with the seller.
• For vehicles in Belgium or the Netherlands, feasibility depends on local availability and the specific documents; coverage is not assumed.
• Switzerland is outside the EU. A purchase or import to Switzerland may require different customs, tax and registration checks; these are not automatically included in an inspection.

Before you commission the work, you will receive a description of the scope, price, expected deliverables and known limitations. Depending on the vehicle, access and accepted proposal, the work may cover visible bodywork and interior condition, authorised functional checks, a diagnostic scan, document review or a road test. No test is included by default; it must be expressly listed in the proposal.

An inspection describes observable findings at the time and under the agreed conditions. It is not a full dismantling, official certification, valuation, warranty or prediction of future faults. Inaccessible areas, components that cannot be tested and intermittent faults may fall outside the scope. The report will state relevant limitations and will not be presented as a complete inspection if access or the agreed scope does not allow one.

• Checks expressly agreed and the conditions of access.
• Documented findings, with photographs where included in the proposal.
• Tests not carried out and the reasons, such as lack of permission, equipment or suitable conditions.
• Separate pricing for a physical inspection and any additional review.

To cross-check the vehicle’s identity and the listing information, provide the VIN, available images and legible copies of the documents held by the seller. Depending on the case, ask for the German registration certificate Teil I and ownership/registration document Teil II, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) if available, technical inspection reports, maintenance and repair invoices, mileage records and accident information. The availability and validity of each document must be checked for that vehicle; we do not assume that every document is required or sufficient.

Before committing, ask the seller to identify their name or legal entity, authority to sell, the VIN and mileage to be stated in the contract, the final price and the invoice or sale document. Confirm in writing the VAT treatment for that transaction, whether the stated price is gross or net, and the seller’s proposed treatment. Buyer and seller must verify tax, customs and registration obligations in the destination country with the relevant authorities or qualified professionals. They must also confirm there what technical documents, approval or conformity are required. We do not invent rates or promise that a vehicle will qualify for registration.

The deliverable will be specified in the accepted proposal. It may include a summary of observations, agreed photographic evidence, checks carried out, open questions and visit limitations. Findings can be grouped as information to confirm, visible wear, repairs to price or an issue that suggests pausing and seeking advice. This helps prioritise questions but does not replace a specialist diagnosis or determine the car’s value on its own.

A result with no observed issues does not guarantee that there are no hidden or future defects. You can use the report to ask for clarification, seek an additional assessment, negotiate directly with the seller or walk away. Autohaus Zephyr is not the vehicle seller and does not guarantee condition, availability, registration approval or insurance coverage. Any warranty or sale terms must be confirmed directly with the seller and recorded in the contract.

Send the listing link, VIN, location, available documents, intended destination country and your priority questions. We will respond with an initial feasibility assessment and, where possible, a proposal specifying scope, deliverables, limitations, cost and the steps needed to coordinate a visit. The initial consultation and initial search proposal are free. A physical inspection, travel and later services are quoted separately and carried out only if you accept the terms.

Before any vehicle reservation or payment, identify and verify the seller and the person or entity receiving the payment. The buyer purchases and pays for the car directly to the identified seller, not to Autohaus Zephyr. Autohaus fees and any third-party services are disclosed separately. Do not send a reservation payment or pay a different beneficiary without first clarifying their identity, relationship to the seller and the terms in writing.